Western Pa. officer killed crash during chase

Friday, May 3, 2013

NEW CASTLE, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania police officer is dead after a car chased by state police crashed into the township officer's cruiser, killing him and seriously injuring another officer who was driving.

Shenango Township Officer William J. "Jerry" McCarthy IV died on the way to the hospital after the crash about 10 p.m. Thursday in New Castle, about 45 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, not far from the Ohio border.

McCarthy and his partner, Officer Michael Lynch, responded when they learned state police were chasing Kylee Barletto, 25, because she was reportedly driving erratically and known to have a suspended license from a previous driving under the influence conviction. Online court records show Lynch had cited her for driving with a suspended license on April 12, and that she had been cited for various traffic offenses on seven occasions since May 2011.

The Shenango officers had positioned their patrol car in New Castle when Barletto's car smashed into it.

Lynch was taken to Jameson Hospital in New Castle for treatment of head and other injuries. Barletto was taken to a hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, where she was being treated and guarded.

Police said she'll be charged with vehicular homicide of a law officer, driving with a suspended license and other charges.

Online court records don't list an attorney for her, and her medical condition could not immediately be determined Friday morning.